Flush tank ball valve support assembly



May 26, 1959 'c. HUDKINS FLUSH TANK BALL VALVE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 2, 1955 W 2 0 l 3 m 0 l M O w/ 0 5 M/ a Q by F o 2, 4 moo 2 Q\\\\ m m M T v A m .mw m v H e M @w l 6 w 0 4 M United States Patent FLUSH TANK BALL VALVE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY Clyde Hudkins, Wheeling, w. Va.

Application September 2, 1955, Serial No. 532,340

2 Claims. (Cl. 4-57) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in flush tank ball valves, and more specifically to an improved support for a flush tank ball valve.

The average flush tank is provided with. a ball valve carried by a vertical stem mounted in at least one vertically spaced guide. However, the stem oftentimes does not fall free through its guides, with the result that the ball valve does not become properly seated on its valve seat. This causes the water running into the flush tank to continuously run into the toilet bowl.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved support assembly for flush tank ball valves, the support assembly being so constructed whereby proper seating of the ball valve is assured.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved ball valve support assembly which is of such a nature whereby it may be mounted within the associated flush tank in any desired position and is so constructed whereby the movement thereof to a ball vvalve seating position is free and unrestrained.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved support assembly for a flush tankball valve, the support assembly being so constructed whereby a ball valve may be properly aligned with its valve seat.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved support assembly for flush tank ball valves, the support assembly including a bumper engaged by the float of the flush tank to ensure seating of the ball valve carried thereby.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a conventional type of flush tank with the top cover thereof removed and shows the support assembly, which is the subject of this invention, mounted therein;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of Figure 1 and shows further the details of the support assembly, the float of the flush tank being shown in a ball valve seating position by dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the ball valve and the support assembly removed from the flush tank; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 2 and shows the manner in which the support assembly has connected thereto both a ball valve and a lift cable.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a conventional type of flush tank which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The flush tank includes a tank 12 having a bottom 14, end walls 16, a front wall 18 and a rear wall 20. The tank 12 also includes a removable cover 22.

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Extending upwardly through the bottom wall 14 and sealed with respect thereto by a fitting 24 is an inlet pipe 26. Carried by the upper part of the inlet pipe 26 is a shut-off valve mechanism 28 which is controlled by a float 30 carried by a float arm 32. Connected to the valve 28 is a main discharge tube 34and an auxiliary discharge tube 36.

Also carried by the bottom wall 14 and sealed with respect thereto by a fitting 38 is a discharge pipe 40. The discharge pipe 40 is provided at its upper end with a valve seat 42 and includes a tubular arm 44 which has connected thereto an overflow pipe 46. Seated on the valve seat 42 and normally closing the same is a ball valve 48. p

In the normal operation of the flush tank 10, the ball valve 48 is lifted ofi its valve seat 42 by means of a control lever 50 connected to a handle 52 carried by the front wall 18. Water disposed within the tank 12 then runs out of the pipe 40 until the level of the water is below the level of the valve seat 42. The ball valve 48 then drops back in place and closes the pipe 40. At the same time, the float 30 moves downwardly to open the valve 28 to admit further water into the tank 12.

In order to provide for the proper operation of the ball valve '48, there is provided a support assembly, which is the subject of this invention, the support assembly being referred to in general by the reference numeral 52. The support assembly 52 includes a support shaft which is referred to in general by reference numeral 54. The support shaft 54 includes a pair of shaft sections 56 connected together by an intermediate turnbuckle member 58. By turning the turnbuckle member 58, the effective length of the support shaft 54 may be varied. The free ends of the shaft sections 56 are provided with suction cups 60 for engaging the inner surfaces of the front wall 18 and the rear wall 20. It will be readily apparent that the support shaft 54 may be clamped in any desired position within the flush tank 12.

Although the support shaft 54 has been illustrated as being formed in sections and being selectively elongated,

, it is to be understood that the elongation of the support shaft 54 is not absolutely necessary providing, of course, that the support shaft 54 is made the proper length for the particular tank 12. Further, new tank constructions may be provided with suitable recesses (not shown) for receiving the ends of a support shaft.

Pivotally carried by the support shaft 54 is a support bracket which is referred to in general by reference numeral 62. The support bracket 62 includes a pair of spaced legs 64' which are connected together by sloping portions 65 which terminate in their forward ends in a' U-shaped portion 66. The free end portions of the legs 64 are provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 68 selectively receiving the shaft sections 56 to facilitate the pivoting of the support bracket 62 with respect to the support shaft 54. By providing the plurality of apertures 68, the support bracket 62 may be angulated with respect to the support shaft 54 to assure algning of the ball valve 48 with the valve seat 42.

Carried by the U-shaped portion 66 is a hanger which is referred to in general by reference numeral 70. The hanger 70 includes an inverted U-shaped member 72 which overlies the U-shaped portion 66 and is slidable thereon to adjustably position the same. Underlying the U-shaped portion 66 is a plate 74 which cooperates with the inverted U-shaped member 72. Extending downwardly through the U-shaped member 72 and the plate 74 is an eye bolt 76 having an eye 78 at the upper end thereof and including a lower externally threaded portion 80. Engaged on the threaded portion 80 is a lock nut 82 to clamp the plate 74 against the underside of the U-shaped portion 66 to position the fastener 76 with respect to the support .3 bracket 62. Thelowerpart of the threaded portion 80 is threadedly engaged in a fitting 84 carried by the upper part of the ball valve 48.

Extending downwardly from the lever 50 is a flexible cable 86. The lower end of the cable 86 is engaged in the eye-78. Thus, when the lever 50 is actuated, the support bracket 62 will be pivoted about the support shaft 54 to lift the ball valve 48 off its seat.

In order to assure proper seating of the ball valve 48 with respect to its seat 42, there is carried by the U-shaped member 72 an upstanding bumper 88. The bumper 88 is so positioned whereby it is engaged by the float 30 in itslo wer position to ensure the proper seating of the ball valve 48 with the valve seat 42.

From the foregoing description of the present invention, it will be readily apparent that there has been devised an improved support assembly for a flush tank ball valve which is so constructed whereby it may be mounted in any type of flush tank without any major alteration thereof and so positioned whereby a ball valve, such as the ball valve 48, carried thereby may be perfectly aligned with the valve seat, such as the valve seat 42, in order that a perfect seat may be ensured. Further, not only is the support assembly so arranged that the proper seating of the ball valve 48 by gravity is assured, there is provided the added feature of the bumper 88 to further ensure the seating of the ball valve 48 due to the pressure of the float 30.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all, suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within thescope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows: i

1. A flush tank ball valve support comprising a supporting shaft assembly and a support bracket, said supporting shaft assembly including a pair of aligned shaft portions, means on remote ends of said shaft portions facing in opposite directions for anchoring engagement with opposed interior wall surfaces of a flush tank, spreader means extending between said shaft portions and urging said shaft portions apart so as to engage said first mentioned means with flush tank walls, said support bracket including a pair of widely spaced legs having rear end portions receiving said shaft portions to pivotally mount said support bracket, said legs being disposed closely adjacent said first mentioned means, forward ends of said legs terminating in a reduced width U-shaped forward portion, means carried by said U-shaped forward portion for attaching a ball valve and an actuating memher, and a bumper carried by said support bracket and projecting above said last mentioned means for engagement by a flush tank float to reseat the ball valve. U

2. In a flush tank assembly of the type including a tank having front and rear walls, a bottom wall and end walls, an inlet pipe extending up from said bottom wall adjacent one of said end walls, a flow control valve carried by said inlet pipe, a float arm connected to said control valve and projecting towards the other of said end walls, a float secured to said float arm and disposed adjacent said other end wall, a discharge pipe extending through a central portion of said bottom wall, said discharge pipe terminating at its upper end within said flush tank in a valve seat, a ball valve engaging said valve seat and normally closing said discharge pipe, a ball valve support, said ball valve support comprising a supporting shaft assembly and a support bracket, said supporting shaft assembly extending between and being anchored to the interior surfaces of said front and rear walls adjacent said other end wall, said supporting shaft assembly including a pair of aligned shaft portions, anchor means on remote ends of said shaft portions disposed in anchoring engagement with said front and rear walls, spreader means extending between said shaft portions and urging said shaft portions apart so as to urge said anchoring means against said front and rear walls, said support bracket including a pair of widely spaced legs having rear end portions receiving said shaft portions to pivotally mount said support bracket, said legs being disposed adjacent said anchoring means, forward ends of said legs terminating in a reduced width U-shaped forward portion, means carried by said U-shaped forward portion engaging said ball valve and securing said ball valve to said support bracket, and a lift type actuator connected to said support bracket for elevating said support bracket and unseating said ball valve, said support bracket being aligned with and underlyingtsaid float whereby as said flat is lowered during a flushing operation it will engage said support bracket and return said ball valve to said valve seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 467,516 McDonald et a1. Jan. 26, 1892 952,495 Austin Mar. 22, 1910 1,201,416 Ziemer Oct. 17, 1916 1,507,816 Davison Sept. 9, 1924 2,142,393 Halteman Jan. 3, 1939 2,190,160 Mason et al. Feb. 13, 1940 2,243,794 Dunn May 27, 1941 2,382,003 Cones Aug. 14, 1945 2,632,182 Stader Mar. 24, 1953 2,726,403 De Gree Dec. 13, 1955 2,728,920 Hylton etral. Jan. 3, 1956 2,781,520 Micek Feb. 19, 1957 

